Road surface and paving blocks for forming such surface



Nov. 29, 1938. J. P. FAGAN H8279 ROAD SURFACE ANDy PAVING BLOCKS FORFORMING SUCH SURFACE Filed March 2, 193e 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 77 LJ LJ LJ.

J. P. PAGAN 2,133,270

FORMING SUCH SURFACE Nov. 29, 1938.

ROAD SURFACE AND PAVING BLOCKS FOR Filed March 2, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 3Patented Nov. 29, 1938 UNITED STATES andere PATENT OFFCE John l. Fagan,Chicago,

lake Iron Corporation, tion of New York Ill., assigner to linter-Chicago, Ill., a corpora- Application March 2, 1936, Serial No. 66,524

Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in road surfaces and pavingblocks for forming such surfaces, and has to do with improved lightreflecting and non-slip projections therefor.

A road surface usually falls in the class of nonluminous bodies and, assuch, depends for its illumination upon reflected or diused light.

One of the main objects of my invention is toprovde projections whichwill produce in front of a vehicle travelling upon the road more directreflection of the light rays from the lamps ci the vehicle and therebyincreased illumination in front of the vehicle, at the same time lessglare in the opposite direction and, in a two-u-'ay 5 road, lessillumination of the opposite side of the road where the travel is in theopposite direction.

It is a more specific object of my invention to provide metal pavingblocks, each having a plurality of integral projections provided withupstanding surfaces presented toward and disposed in front of thevehicle substantially normal to the direction of travel, and defined inthe opposite direction by obliquely disposed upstanding surfaces; alsoan arrangement of the blocks with the projections oppositely disposed onopposite sides of the road, whereby on one side of the road theprojections provide upstanding surfaces presented toward and disposedsubstantially normal to the direction of travel on that side of theroad, and are defined in the opposite direction by obliquely disposedupstanding surfaces. and on the opposite side of the road theprojections provide upstanding surfaces presented tov/ard and disposedsubstantially normal to the opposite direction of travel on that side ofthe road, and are defined in the opposite direction by obliquelydisposed upstanding surfaces.

Another more specific object of my invention is to provide sets oftriangular metal paving blocks adapted to be juxtaposed and interttedwith sides of alternate blocks and apices of the intervening blockspresented toward the direction of travel, and with oppositely disposedprojections on the upper surfaces of said blocks, whereby all of saidprojections may present upright surfaces toward and substantially normalthe direction of travel and obliduely disposed upstanding surfaces inthe opposite direction.

Another more specific object is to provide half blocks with similarprojections oppositely disposed for filling or finishing purposes, andwhich will .carry out the opposite effects produced upon opposite sidesof the road by the blocks. A

Further objects and advantages of my invention will appear from thefollowing detailed description, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a plan view of two juxtapc intertted blocks embodying thevention;

Figure 2 is a s shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an under side view of one of the blocks shown in Figure l;

Figure 4 is a plan View of one of the half blocksA for lling andfinishing purposes;

Figure 5 is a plan view of another half blc-ck;

Figure 6 illustrates,V in plan and partially broken away, a portion of aroad surface enibodying the present invention;

Figure '7 is a fragmentary vertical section taken on the line l-l ofFigure 6;

Figure 8 illustrates a portion of one side of a road surface embodyingthe present invention. with the light reflecting and non-slipprojectionsv in perspective and showing the increased illuminationprovided where the upstanding surfaces are presented toward and disposedsubstantially normal to the direction of travel; and

Figure 9 is a view similar to Figure 8, illustrating a portion of theopposite side of the road surface and showing the decreased illuminationprovided at that side by the oblique surfaces of the projections.

Referring to the drawings, the paving structure shown comprises two setsof triangular metallic blocks, the blocks of one set being indicated bythe reference character 5 and the blocks of the other set are indicatedby the reference character 6.

The blocks 5 and B are preferably formed of cast iron, and each has anupper load-carrying portion l with integral marginal side walls 3extending downwardly from the upper load-carrying portion and formingthree supporting feet 9 respectively depending from the apices of theblocks below the remaining portions of the side walls for supporting theblocks upon a rigid supporting foundation lll, with the lower edges ofthe side walls between the feet S spaced slightly above and out ofcontact with the supporting foundation.

The marginal side walls 8 may slope outwardly and downwardly from thetops of the blocks, as shown, to facilitate removal of the blocks othersets of posed so that from the molds, and with the other advantages setfor'th in United States Letters Patent to Francis G. Small, No.2,018,581, dated October 22, 1935, but I contemplate within the scope ofthe vpresent invention making the slope in the opposite direction oromitting the slope entirely, and making the outer surfaces of themarginal side walls vertical.

The blocks shown are not provided with internal reenforcing ribs, butribs such as those shown in the above patent to Francis G. Small arecontemplated within the scope of the present invention.

The blocks 5 and G are laid on the foundation I9 of reenforced concreteor like rigid material, with the feet 9 resting directly or otherwiseface of the foundation provide the desired support, and a filling orsealing material I2 of asphalt, bitumen, or the like, is applied orotherwise provided between the marginal side walls 8 of adjacent blocks.The side walls 8 are preferably in sealing contact with the sealingmaterial I 2 for their full lengths, and this sealing material acts as abinder and to seal the hollow spaces within the blocks. Of course alayer of material like the sealing material I2 may be provided on thesurface of the foundation I 0, with the feet 9 passing through thislayer and resting upon the foundation as disclosedl in the above patentto Francis G. Small, all within the scope of the present invention.

The blocks 5 and 6 are laid in juxtaposition, with a small gap betweenthem for the sealing material I2. The desired spacing of the blocks maybe ksecured by coacting spacing lugs I3 formed integral with andextending laterally from the lower edges of the marginal side walls 8between the feet 9 and thereby elevated, with the lower edges of theportions of the side walls between the feet 9 above the lower ends ofthe feet.

The sealing material or filling I2 between the blocks 5 and 6 servesgenerally to retain the blocks in position and to protect thefoundation. The sealing or filling material is of yielding characterwhen set to permit expansion and' contraction of the blocks undervariations in temperature, thereby preventing buckling of the roadsurface.

The blocks 5 and 6 are intertted with the sides I5 of the blocks 5 andthe apices IB of the blocks 6 presented toward the direction of travelindicated by the arrow I1 in Figure 6. Where the road is a two-way road,the blocks 5 and G are reversed on the opposite side of the road, withthe sides I5 of the blocks 5 and the apices I6 of the blocks 6 presentedtoward the opposite direction of travel on that side of the road.

Each block 5 has a plurality of integral triangular studs or projectionsI8 on its upper surface. These studs or projections I3 are distheupstanding sides I9 thereof are presented toward and positionedsubstantially normal to the direction of travel indicated by the arrowI'I in Figure 6, and with the apices 28 of said projections opposite thesides I 9 presented in the opposite direction.

Each block 6 has a plurality of similar integral triangular studs orprojections 2| on its upper surface. The disposition of these studs 2Iin respect to the blocks 6 carrying the same is opposite to thedisposition of the studs I8 in respect to the blocks 5, so that when theblocks are intertted as shown, the upstanding sides 22 of the .23 ofsaid studs studs 2I are also presented toward and positionedsubstantially normal to the direction of travel indicated by the arrowI1 and with the apices 2I opposite the sides 22 presented in theopposite direction. Integral diamond-shaped studs or projections 24 and25, at the apices of the blocks 6, complete the sets of studs on theseblocks. The studs 24 have upstanding sides 26 presented toward andpositioned substantially normal to the direction of travel indicated bythe arrow I'I. 'Ihe studs 24 and 25, in addition to completing the studlayouts on the blocks 6, break up the uniformity of spacing of the lugsover the road surface, and thereby the harmonics, whereby to reduce thehum of tires of the vehicles traveling upon such surface and to reducethe stopping distance on the surface.

The upright surfaces I9 and 22 being all presented toward andsubstantially normal the direction of travel indicated by the arrow I'I,more direct reflection of the light rays from the lamps of the vehiclestraveling upon the road' in the direction indicated by the arrow I'I isproduced, thereby utilizing more eiliciently the light rays andproducing increased illumination in front of the vehicle. By the sametoken that the direct reflection is increased and better illuminationprovided in front of the vehicle, the amount of light passing on beyondthe projections I8 and 2 I, and thereby the glare upon vehiclesapproaching in the opposite direction, is reduced. This disposition ofthe apices 20 and 23 of the projections IS and 2I in the oppositedirection presents obliquely disposed upstanding surfaces 28 and 29v inthat direction, with reduced direct reflection and reduced illuminationby the lamps of approaching vehicles.

Where the road is a two-way road, with tra-vel on one side indicated bythe arrow I1 and travel on the other side of the center of the roadindicated by the arrow 39 (Figure 6), the blocks 5 and 6 are oppositelydisposed on opposite sides of the road, the blocks 5 and 6 beingdisposed, as already pointed out, with their sides I5y and apices I6,respectively, toward the direction of travel on the right-hand side ofthe road, and the blocks 5 and 6 being oppositely disposed with thesides I5 and apices I6 presented toward and disposed substantiallynormal the opposite direction of travel on the left-hand side of theroad. This presents the upright surfaces I9 and 22 toward andsubstantially normal to the direction vof travel on the right-hand sideof the road, and the surfaces I9 and 22 in the opposite direction andtoward and substantially normal to the opposite direction of travel onthe opposite side of the road. As a result, and in addition to theadvantages above set forth, increased illumination is provided' in frontof the vehicles in each lane or on each side of the road, with reducedillumination of the opposite side of the road, thereby providing adefinite line of demarcation between the opposite sides of the road ineach direction. The effect of the brighter illumination on theright-hand side of the road and reduced illumination on the left-handlside of the road is shown in Figures 8 and 9.

The studs or projections I8 and 2i are preferably arranged in rowsparallel to the sides I5 of the blocks 5, and the blocks are preferablylaid with these sides I5 normal to the direction of travel. The blocksare preferably laid with the rows of studs 2| of the blocks 6 aligned,or substantially aligned, with the rows. of studs I8- on The halfblocks, 32, 32', 33, and 33' (Figures l Y and are provided for llinginand nishing the sides and center of the road, as shown in Figure 6.These bloc-ks are preferably formed of cast iron, and each has an upperload-carrying portion with integral marginal side walls ex? tendingdownwardly from the upper load-carrying portion and forming threesupporting feet respectively depending from the apices of the halfblocks below the remaining portions of the side walls for supportingthese half blocks upon the supporting foundation ID, similar to theblocks 5 and 6.

The integral triangular projections 34 on the half blocks 32 areidentical with and positioned similar to the integral triangularprojections I8 on blocks 5, and these half blocks 32 are adapted to bearranged in one direction along the righthand edge cf the road and inreverse position along the left-hand edge oi the road, as shown inFigure 6. The upstanding surfaces 35 are thus presented toward anddisposed normal the opposite directions of travel on the opposite sidesof the road, and the apices opposite these sides are presented in theopposite direction.

rThe integral triangular projections 3% on the half blocks 32 areidentical with and position similar to the integral triangularprojections 2i on the blocks f, and these half blocks 32 are adapted tobe laid in reverse directions along the center of the road. Theupstanding sides 39 are thus presented toward and substantially normalthe opposite directions of travel on the opposite sides of the road. Thehalf blocks 33 and 33 are arranged in reverse order along opposite sidesand the center of the road, with the projections thereon arranged tolcarry out the eiect shown and described.

The half blocks 32, 32', 33, and 33 are shown without spacing lugs, butit is to be understood that these half blocks may be provided withspacing lugs similar to those on the blocks 5 and 5.

I do not intend to be limited tol the precise details shown ordescribed.

I claim:

l. A. road surface comprising triangular paving members arranged inpairs with adjacent inembers provided With upstanding triangularprojections presenting upstanding light reflecting faces, the apices ofsaid upstanding triangular projections pointing in opposite directionsrelative to each individual paving member and the y' pairs of pavingmembers being arranged to form a parallelogram with the apices of saidupstanding triangular projections pointing in the same direction withrespect to said parallelcgram, said paving members being arranged withthe apices of all of said upstanding triangular projections pointing inone direction on one side of the road and with the apices of all of saidupstanding triangular projections pointing in the opposite direction onthe opposite side of the road.

2. A road surface comprising triangular paving members arranged in pairswith adjacent members provided with upstanding triangular projectionspresenting upstanding light reflecting faces, the apices of saidupstanding triangular projections pointing in opposite directionsrelative to each individual paving member and the pairs of pavingmembers being arranged to form a parallelogram with the apices of saidupstanding triangular projections pointing in the same direction withrespect to said parallelogram, said paving members being arranged withthe apices of all of said upstanding triangular projections pointing inone direction on one side of the road and with the apices of all of saidupstanding triangular projections pointing in the opposite direction onthe opposite side of the road, and half blocks for filling in andfinishing the sides and center of the road, the half blocks on one sideof the road having upstanding triangular projections presentingupstanding light reflecting faces with the apices of said upstandingtriangular projections pointing in the same direction as the apices ofthe upstanding triangular projections of the pairs of adjacenttriangular paving members on the same side of the road and with the halfblocks on the other side of the road having upstanding triangularprojections presenting upstanding light reflecting faces with the apicesof said upstanding triangular projections pointing in the same directionas the apices of the upstanding triangular projections of the pairs oftriangular paving members on the adjacent side of the road.

3. Paving means comprising a paving block, triangular tread projectionson the upper surface of said block, said tread projections havingupstanding light transmitting sides, each tread projection on said blockhaving one of its light transmitting sides presented in one and the samedirection and one of its apices presented in the opposite direction.

4. Paving means comprising a triangular paving block, triangular treadprojections on the upper surface of said block, each of the treadprojections on said block having three upstanding lightl transmittingsides and each tread projection on said block being disposed with itslight transmitting sides parallel with and presented toward therespective sides of the block and With its apices presented away fromthe respective sides of the block.

5. Paving means comprising a triangular paving block, triangular treadprojections on the upper surface of said block, each of the treadprojections on said block having three upstanding light transmittingsides and each tread projection on said block bein-g disposed with itsapices presented toward the respective sides of the block and with itslight transmitting sides presented away from the respective sides of theblock.

6. Paving means comprising pairs of triangular paving blocks with eachblock of each pair of blocks having triangular tread projections on theupper surface thereof, each tread projection having three upstandinglight transmitting sides and three apices, each tread projection on oneblock of each pair of blocks being disposed with its light transmittingsides parallel with and presented toward the respective sides of theblock and with its apices presented away from the respective sides ofthe block, and each tread projection on the other block of each pair ofblocks having its light transmitting sides presented away from and itsapices presented toward the respective sides of said other block.

7. Paving means comprising pairs of equilateral trian-gular pavingblocks with each block of each pair of blocks having triangular treadprojections on the upper surface thereof, each tread projection havingthree upstanding light transmitting sides and three apices, each treadprojection on one block of each pair of blocks being disposed with itslight transmitting sides parallel with and presented toward therespective sides of the block and with its apices presented away fromthe respective sides of the block and each tread projection on the otherblock of each pair of blocks having its light transmittin-g sidespresented away from and its apices presented toward the respective sidesof said other block, and pairs of right angle triangular filler blockswith each block of each of said last pairs of blocks having triangulartread projections on the upper surface thereof, each tread projection oneach of said ller blocks having one of its light transmitting sidesparallel With and presented toward one of the sides of the block and theother block of each pair of filler blocks having one of its apicesdisposed toward one of the sides of said last mentioned blocks.

8. Paving means comprising pairs of triangular paving blocks with eachblock of each pair of paving blocks having triangular tread projectionson the upper surface thereof, each tread projection having threeopstanding light transmitting sides and three apices, the blocks on oneside of the road being disposed with one light transmitting side of eachtread pr-ojection presented in one and the same direction and with oneapex of each tread projection presented in the opposite direction andthe blocks on the opposite side of the road being disposed reverseljiwith respect to the blocks on said first mentioned side of the road sothat one apexl of each of said latter blocks is presented in thedirection in which the light transmitting sides of the projections onsaid rst blocks are disposed and With the light transmitting sides ofthe projections on said latter side of the road presented in theopposite direction.

9. A road surface formed of pairs of triangular paving blocks laidreversely with respect to each other along the opposite sides of theroad and with a block of each pair of the blocks on each side of theroad laid reversely with respect to the other block, triangular treadprojections on the upper surface of each block, said tread projectionshaving upstanding light transmitting sides, each tread projection on oneside of the road having one light transmitting side presented toward anddisposed at substantially right angles to the direction of travel onthat side of the road, andeach tread projection on the opposite side ofthe road having one of its apices presented in theV .direction in whichthe light transmitting sides of the tread projections on the rstmentioned side of the road are presented.

l0. A road surface having triangular tread projections thereon, saidtread projections. having upstanding light transmitting sides, eachtread projection on one side of the road having one of its lighttransmitting sides presented in one di rection and each tread projectionon theoppositeside of the road having one of its light transmittingsides presented in the opposite direction.

JOHN i?. FAGAN.

